This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Ok, so I just bought my 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 on December 1, 2008 at 82,000 miles. 2 months later I needed to replace my alternator in February 2009. In May 2009 my engine blew, apparently the #1 rod separated and went through the oil pan. I replaced the engine since I still have a loan on the car. It is now July 2009 and my transmission is slipping. I only have owned this car for less than 8 months and repair costs are more than what I paid for this. Unfortunately I can't get rid of it because I don't have enough money for a better car and now I am in this endless cycle of repairs.
When pressing gas accelerator pedal, car does not move. Car hesitates when starting from a stop. Occasionally (about 1 of 2 times) the car will shut down and check engine lights and other service lights appear. The transmission was replaced once already on 11/29/00. Transmission further complained about on 1/15/01 and 8/9/01 - told there was no problem. The car has been towed by aaa twice in past two weeks. 5 mechanics cannot diagnosis the problem. Also, when car is idling, in gear, the whole car shakes.
1999 Ford Escort. The consumer stated the gear shifter malfunctioned. It did not go into 2 or 1 gear. The vehicle was fixed last year on August 3, 2004. The dealership was contacted, and they stated these gears should not be used. The entire shifter assembly will need to replaced at this time. The problem started approximately two years ago, it started shifting hard. This caused something in the mechanism to bend. The remedy did not last a year. This problem was happening all of the time.
Noticed that engine warning light was coming up on and off, changed spark plugs, wires, light would go off for a period and than come back on. I was driving down the freeway between 65-70 miles/hour when I hured a loud bang, pulled off the freeway, I had the car taking to a local Ford dealership, service writer told me that the valve seat in the head had seperated and fell into the motor. He also told me that the 1.9 motor had a flaw in the head and Ford Motor Company new about this problem for many years. Than he showed me another Escort that6 had the same exact problem and that this was not the first car he seened with this problem. Second problem: I have had to replace 3 transmitions with in a year, which was covered by Ford Motor Company and possibly a 4th. I don't know because the motor went. Third problem: While at a stop sign a was rear ended an about 30-35 miles/hour, my seat bellt did not hold me and my seat collepsed on top of my child who was in a car seat behind me. The car was in the shope about the week before the motor went and they told me that the problem had to do with the transmition but I believe that the computer in the car new that the valve was prepering to fail. I was also told that the Ford Motor Company had redesigned the head, so this problem could not happen again.
While shifting gears, the vehicle failed to move on its own. The consumer tried to shift the gears and a knocking noise was heard coming from the front. The consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for an inspection. The mechanic informed the consumer that the transmission needed to be replaced.
Transmission had to be replaced 3 times because it went bad within at 47,000 miles while driving transmission made a noise like it was straining to go into gear. It felt like vehicle was being driven in second gear instead of drive. Dealership only replaced transmission, but did not provide a cause for the problem.
Our ZX2 has been nothing but trouble! on 9-10-02 (29,183 miles) $342.30 worth of work was done on the brake system: Friction reline, disc pads, brake shoes, rotors, drums, disc hardware (which was broken), shim kit, return springs (weak), bleed & adjust, and bearing pack. On 6-19-03 (37,829 miles) we had to have the complete transmission replaced. The cost for this was $1560.07, but since our warranty had just expired our local mechanic had firend at a Ford dealer who gave us the 'good faith' policy and we only paid half. Gee...what a bargain for a 4 year old car. 2 months later, our A/C went out. W delayed repair due to $. on 2-10-04 (44,000 miles) the housing and water pump broke. This is a huge metal piece which the mechanic said he'd had never seen break. It snapped like plastic. The cost of this was $509.47. On 2-24-04 (44,428 miles) we had to have the battery and cabels replaced which cost $117.58. On 3-22-04 we repaired the A/C (45,524 miles). The technician found constant control relay module faulty. This cost $375.76. On 4-25-04 (@ 45,700 miles) another huge metal piece broke! it was the serp. Tension housing and belt. The mechanic again said he has never seen that problem, special ordered the part from a Ford dealer who was also shocked. This cost us $195.96. So far, we have sunk $2321.11 into this car. The worst part is that we still owe on it. May of '04 we went to lou grubb Ford and were told that they were not responsible because our oil changes were not done at a Ford dealer! Ford field engineer denied seeing us. The Ford C.S. woman said, "well, I guess it's time to trade in the car. People trade in bad cars all the time". I have issues knowing that some poor soul will own this money trap. We have written 3 letters to the Ford headquarters in dearborn, mi, but have had no response. It shakes & idles like it could die at any time! I would love to see a class action suit. I will never buy a Ford again if this is their idea of 'built Ford tough'.
I had to put an engine and transmission in my car last year. Now my ac doesn't work and I recently had to replace the battery and put a new alternator in it too. I have had issue after issue with my ZX2.
1999 Escort automatic transmission was completely replaced at 30,906 miles (6/8/2001). 35,386 miles later (3/30/2004), the differential assembly blew up and destroyed the automatic transmission. Ford's customer support cntr on 4/6/04 said I would be responded to within 3 business days. I tried E-mailing them again, and I still have no response. A total of 66,292 miles and two new transmissions broken. Today is six business days later. I feel I am now being ignored by Ford. They know I have bought 8 Ford cars/trucks since 1977. I have dmv records for 6 of them.
When vehicle is put into reverse gear, it does not engage. The dealership indicated the problem was the automatic transmission and that it needed to be replaced.
With no warning or early signs, transmission burned up. Drove fine the night before, woke up the next morning and had not transmission. Transmission fluid was black. Had to get entire transmission rebuilt.
Transmission light came on. Dealer determined transmission needed to be replaced. On April 26, 2002 transmission light and engine check light illuminated again. Transmission had to be replaced. Consumer stated both times transmission was dragging.
Vehicle lunged forward while in neutral, causing a front end collision with garage wall. Dealer has been contacted, and informed consumer that oil pan was dented. Also, vehicle will not shift into reverse.
Not only was my rebate check stolen by someone working at the dealership but I have complained so many times since purchasing my car. I believe that I 've been given the run around because I've just past qualifying for California's lemon law. My car is unsafe it rolls back on hills and now it won't go into park. I've had problems since buying the car. No safety defect.
Vehicle had less than a year when a metalic knocking noise started from the engine. The lifters & other parts has been replaced several times since the begining of the year 2000. Car still has the noise after many attempts to correct the problem and the Ford international still does not want to claim the vehicle a defect. The second band of the transmision broke into many parts and the technition of bayamon Ford said it was the first time he had seen this on this type of vehicle. He has seen this in Explorer & Expedition, but not on Ford Escorts. Bayamon Ford nor auto vega has been able to fix this this problem in more than a year. I also would like to add that another recurring problem in this car is that the headlight socket keeps melting. This is a fire hazzard and it is a recurring problem after replacement of headlight fixture. I noticed that the negative wire is thinner than both of the positive wires, thus causing the over heating & causing it to melt. Another recurring problem is that about every 6 months I have to take the car to the dealer to replace the front struts because they are shot. I would like to get a technition to properly do its job and not to put myself or other people in danger because he/she does not want to blow the whistle on a problem.
Catasthropic transmission failure while going 75 mph on freeway. Engine runs fine. Vehicle would not go forward or reverse. No previous problems or sign(s) of impending failure. Would like manufacturer to do material failure analysis.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Haverhill, MA, USA